| Mattson Technology, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2005 Results Wednesday October 19, 4:45 pm ET
 
 FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mattson Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTSN - News), a leading supplier of advanced process equipment used to manufacture semiconductors, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 25, 2005.
 
 Highlights of this report include:
 
 *    Achieved eighth consecutive profitable quarter.
 *    Increased cash 27.4 percent quarter-over-quarter to $124.3 million.
 *    Penetrated new account, a major silicon-on-insulator wafer
 manufacturer.
 *    Received first order for next-generation bulk strip tool from
 leading Japanese chipmaker.
 
 Net sales for the third quarter were $47.7 million, down 16.5 percent from $57.1 million for the previous quarter, and down 29.9 percent from $68.0 million in the third quarter of 2004. Net sales for the third quarters of 2005 and 2004 each included royalties of $3.2 million related to the settlement of the patent infringement suit with Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ("DNS"). Net income for the quarter was $3.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared with $3.3 million, or $0.06 per share, for the previous quarter, and $10.2 million, or $0.20 per share, for the third quarter of 2004. Net income for the quarter included a $2.9 million gain from an additional earn-out payment received from the sale of our Wet Business in March 2003.
 
 Gross margin for the third quarter was 41.5 percent, up 0.5 percentage points from 41.0 percent for the previous quarter, and down 3.8 percentage points from 45.3 percent for the third quarter of 2004. Excluding the nonrecurring gain from the earn-out payment related to the sale of our Wet Business of $2.9 million, operating expenses for the quarter decreased to $19.6 million from $20.4 million for the previous quarter and $20.9 million from the third quarter of 2004, as a result of improved expense management. Excluding the nonrecurring gain, operating expenses as a percentage of net sales were 41.2 percent for the quarter, compared with 35.8 percent for the previous quarter and 30.7 percent in the third quarter of 2004.
 
 Shipments for the third quarter were $35.9 million, down 31.2 percent from $52.2 million for the previous quarter, and down 42.6 percent from $62.5 million for the third quarter of 2004. Net bookings for the quarter were $46.0 million, up 72.9 percent from $26.6 million for the previous quarter, and down 37.9 percent from $74.1 million for the third quarter of 2004. Net bookings in the quarter resulted in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.28 to 1. Deferred revenues (which represent unrecognized revenues and pre-paid royalties received from DNS) were $25.2 million at the end of the quarter compared with $31.1 million at the end of the previous quarter, and $32.1 million at the end of the third quarter of 2004.
 
 Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at the end of the third quarter were $124.3 million, up $26.7 million from $97.6 million at the end of the prior quarter, and up $31.6 million from $92.7 million at the end of 2004.
 
 "Our focus on operational and financial performance is paying off as we continued to generate strong cash flow and delivered the eighth consecutive profitable quarter -- the strongest two-year period in the company's history," said David L. Dutton, chief executive officer of Mattson Technology.
 
 "Since the last cycle, we expanded our product portfolio with the Aspen III eHighlands low-k/copper strip system, the next-generation bulk strip tool and the fRTP flash millisecond annealing system. These tools are gaining acceptance by existing and new customers. In the third quarter, we received the first order for our next-generation bulk strip tool from a major Japanese logic chipmaker. We also received orders for multiple Helios systems from a leading silicon-on-insulator wafer manufacturer, which further strengthens our position in the wafer manufacturing market."
 
 "We will continue to leverage our leading-edge technologies in order to drive share gains in new and existing markets," concluded Dutton.
 
 Attached to this news release are preliminary unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and balance sheets.
 
 Forward-Looking Guidance: New order bookings in the fourth quarter of 2005 are expected to range between $42 million and $47 million. Fourth quarter 2005 net sales are expected to range between $47 million and $52 million. Gross margin in the fourth quarter is expected to be in the range of approximately 40 percent to 45 percent.
 
 On Wednesday, October 19, 2005, at 5:30 PM Eastern Time (2:30 PM Pacific Time), Mattson will hold a conference call to review the following topics: third quarter 2005 financial results, current business conditions and the near-term business outlook. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast at www.mattson.com under the "Investors" section. In addition to the live webcast, a replay will be available to the public on the Mattson website for one week following the live broadcast.
 
 "Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's future prospects, including, but not limited to: anticipated bookings, revenue and margins for future periods. Forward-looking statements address matters that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: end-user demand for semiconductors; customer demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; the timing of significant customer orders for the company's products; customer acceptance of delivered products and the company's ability to collect amounts due upon shipment and upon acceptance; the company's ability to timely manufacture, deliver and support ordered products; the company's ability to bring new products to market and to gain market share with such products; customer rate of adoption of new technologies; risks inherent in the development of complex technology; the timing and competitiveness of new product releases by the company's competitors; the company's ability to align its cost structure with market conditions; and other risks and uncertainties described in the company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Results for the current quarter are preliminary and subject to adjustment. The company assumes no obligation to update the information provided in this news release.
 
 About Mattson Technology, Inc.
 
 Mattson Technology, Inc. is the leading supplier of dry strip equipment and the second largest supplier of rapid thermal processing equipment in the global semiconductor industry. The company's strip and RTP equipment utilize innovative technology to deliver advanced processing performance and productivity gains to semiconductor manufacturers worldwide for the fabrication of current- and next-generation devices. For more information, please contact Mattson Technology, Inc., 47131 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, Calif. 94538. Telephone: (800) MATTSON/(510) 657-5900. Fax: (510) 492-5911. Internet: www.mattson.com.
 
 Mattson Technology Contact
 Ludger Viefhues
 Mattson Technology, Inc.
 tel  510-492-6241
 fax  510-492-5963
 ludger.viefhues@mattson.com
 
 
 MATTSON TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 (in thousands, except per share amounts)
 (Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
 Sept. 25, Sept. 26, Sept. 25, Sept. 26,
 2005     2004      2005      2004
 
 Net sales                          $47,663  $68,038  $159,788  $181,314
 Cost of sales                       27,905   37,247    94,375   102,112
 Gross margin                      19,758   30,791    65,413    79,202
 Operating expenses:
 Research, development and
 engineering                       6,484    5,616    19,778    15,970
 Selling, general and
 administrative                   12,648   14,956    39,760    41,299
 Amortization of intangibles          500      328     1,500       985
 Gain on disposition of Wet
 Business                         (2,862)      --    (2,862)       --
 Total operating expenses       16,770   20,900    58,176    58,254
 Income from operations               2,988    9,891     7,237    20,948
 Interest and other income
 (expense), net                        618      307       199       232
 Income before income taxes           3,606   10,198     7,436    21,180
 Provision (benefit) for income
 taxes                                  61        1      (435)      308
 Net income                          $3,545  $10,197    $7,871   $20,872
 Net income per share:
 Basic                           $0.07    $0.20     $0.15     $0.43
 Diluted                         $0.07    $0.20     $0.15     $0.41
 Shares used in computing net income
 per share:
 Basic                          51,504   49,922    51,431    49,085
 Diluted                        52,784   51,051    52,719    50,588
 
 MATTSON TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 (in thousands)
 
 September 25,    December 31,
 2005              2004
 (unaudited)           (1)
 ASSETS
 
 Current assets:
 Cash, cash equivalents and short-
 term investments                           $124,276           $92,652
 Accounts receivable, net                      30,460            58,288
 Advance billings                              10,914            16,793
 Inventories                                   34,988            43,509
 Inventories - delivered systems                1,468             5,258
 Prepaid expenses and other assets             11,964            11,233
 Total current assets                    214,070           227,733
 Property and equipment, net                     21,707            27,396
 Goodwill                                        20,005            24,451
 Intangibles, net                                11,397            12,897
 Other assets                                     1,297               950
 Total assets                           $268,476          $293,427
 
 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Current liabilities:
 Accounts payable                             $11,181           $19,122
 Accrued liabilities                           37,105            47,705
 Deferred revenue                              25,167            30,313
 Total current liabilities                73,453            97,140
 
 Long-term liabilities:
 Deferred income taxes                            125             4,901
 Total long-term liabilities                 125             4,901
 
 Total liabilities                        73,578           102,041
 
 Stockholders' equity:
 
 Common stock                                      52                52
 Additional paid-in capital                   612,883           610,690
 Accumulated other comprehensive
 income                                        9,475            16,027
 Treasury stock                                (2,987)           (2,987)
 Accumulated deficit                         (424,525)         (432,396)
 Total stockholders' equity              194,898           191,386
 $268,476          $293,427
 
 (1)  Derived from audited financial statements
 
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 Source: Mattson Technology, Inc.
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